Romans 5:12, 15, 17-21 / Luke 12:35-38
No one wants to be known as the one who brought about a great tragedy. No one wants to be remembered in that particular sense.
Yet, we know of people in history who had this infamous reputation - Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot.
And within our recent memory is the spectacular collapse of Barings Bank, the United Kingdom's oldest investment bank caused by the fraudulent and unauthorized speculative trading of a broker, Nick Leeson.
Just that one man and a bank can go bankrupt. So the world knows what a twisted and crooked man can do with devastating consequences.
But that shouldn't be that surprising as the 1st reading reminds us of what happened to the first man.
Sin entered the world through one man, and through sin, death, and thus death has spread through the whole human race because everyone has sinned.
So the effects of the sin of one man is certainly not to be underestimated. And if everyone continues to sin, then we can imagine the epic devastating effect of sin.
Hence Jesus warned us in the gospel to be dressed for action and to be awake and alert.
Yes, we have to be alert for those moments of temptation that will lead us to sin and destroy our relationship with God and with others.
At the same time, we also need to be dressed for action and to be alert for those moments of grace to do a good act for the salvation of the world.
In being obedient to the grace of God, even though sin may still abound, yet God's grace will abound all the more.